On hanging his boots after two decades of service in the army, Col. Vir Singh, a bachelor, proposed to spend the rest of his retired life at his native village near Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Although he enjoyed the first four weeks to his heart’s content, the second month onwards, he became ill at ease in idling away futile days. So he proposed to venture into the hospitality business and set up a sort of budget hotel in his palatial ancestral house. For alterations, renovation and interior décor, he consulted his childhood friend Mr. Mistry, practising as an architect and structural engineer in Shimla. Vir Singh was confident of success…